Bio-Technology General Corp. has received a notice ofallowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for abroad patent on superoxide dismutase.

SOD is a scavenger enzyme that eliminates oxygen-freeradicals. The patent contains claims for the gene encodinghuman copper/zinc SOD, recombinant expression vectors, andcells containing the gene and the use of such vectors and cellsto produce SOD. BTGC (NASDAQ:BTGC) is conducting EuropeanPhase I trials of SOD to treat ulcerative colitis and rheumatoidarthritis.

The patent, which is exclusively licensed to New York-basedBTGC, will preclude competitors from marketing SOD in theUnited States, said Sim Fass, president and chief executiveofficer.

Chiron Corp. has a U.S. patent application in interference withanother BTGC SOD patent, but is not currently pursuing SOD inthe United States, said Chiron spokesman Larry Kurtz. Chiron issupplying human recombinant SOD to Takeda ChemicalIndustries Ltd., which is conducting Phase III trials in Japan inpatients with osteoarthritis.

Enzon Inc.'s marketing partner, Sterling Drug Inc., is developingbovine SOD combined with polyethylene glycol. The bovineproduct is not affected by BTGC's latest patent. -- KarenBernstein

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